The Hansen Family and our employees wish each of you a most joyous holiday season. We wish you good health and great times with family and friends. As gifts are exchanged, we remember that special gift we all received on that Christmas morning many years ago. May 2009 be a year of excitement and challenges.

We hope to see you all often this month as you prepare for family gatherings and holiday parties. You'll find a wide variety of meats and cheeses as well as our egg nog, cream, mild cheddar cheese curds, milk, butter and ice cream.

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, closing at 6:00 PM
Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Moo.....rific Gifts from Moo to YOU!! Are you looking for a new idea or a simple gift for someone this season? Look no further. Get a gift that can be used by all. They will enjoy the great taste of fresh cheese, which they can enjoy for days to come! Look at the various styles and choices we have, or you can custom order what you would like. We will do all the work and even deliver it to Moo Roo or the Cedar Falls Outlet for you to pick up! We include our fresh cheese curds or we have a variety of cheeses from Wisconsin to choose from such as marbled colby, mild cheddar, butterkase, pepperjack, and colby. We also include sausage, chocolates, and popcorn. We will make the basket or box up the day before we deliver it to you, guaranteeing the freshest products! Contact: Amy Hansen at 319-290-3994 or Tricia Hansen at 319-988-4284

We have been having trouble getting Babcock Gouda Cheese. Edelweiss Creamery has an Aged Gouda which has a drier texture. There is also a variety made from cows that are grass fed. This cheese is a bit tarter (more sharp) than the Babcock Gouda. Both of these cheeses come in a 12-pound wheel that will be sliced according to how much you would like. Just be sure to ask!

Edelweiss has an Emmentaler Swiss which we also carry at both Moo Roo and Hansen's Outlet. The pieces may be larger than you would like, but we can cut them to your specifications. This is a raw milk cheese and low in sodium. Raw milk cheeses must age for at least 60 days. Edelweiss Creamery is a small artisan cheese factory in Wisconsin which uses both state-of-the-art technology as well as the "tried and true" traditional method of cheesemaking. They have been at the same location since it was established in 1873.

Gueso Blanco cheese is a Mexican cheese that is very similar to a fresh mozzarella. We have customers who will fry this cheese because of the extra moisture which prevents it from melting. It is a very mild cheese. If any of you have tried different recipes or ideas using our cheeses, we'd love to be able to share them with our readers.

Thanks to all who placed votes for naming the cow at the Cedar Falls Outlet. First place goes to Hansen's Gretl with 49 votes, submitted by Kathy Matthias and Annette Fuller. Kathy & Annette will both receive $20.00. The other finalists will receive a 1/2 gallon of ice cream. Thank you all for entering our contest. The names were awesome. Congratulations to all the winners. Names and votes are listed below.

1) Hansen's Gretl, 49 votes
2) Mollie Moo, 35 votes
3) Buttercup, 31 votes
4) Half Pint, 28 votes
5) Squirt, 20 votes
6) Cream Puff, 16 votes

First, I LOVE your skim milk!! Well, ok, all of your milk - but I can't even tell it is skim!! My husband and his family used to be dairy farmers, so we love that we can buy your products locally and help support a local dairy farm! I would love to see you include other products/produce produced by local farmers. What a treat it would be to be able to go to a local grocer and buy all locally grown products! Maybe even some local crafts/gifts in a special "gift shop" room!! That would be heaven in Iowa!! Local milk, produce, products, gifts, all under one "barn" roof!!! Thanks for listening! -T.A.

The apples were great. Yes, bring them back next year. We love your store. especially the milk and ground beef. -J.R.

December's Cow of the Month is Noel. She was born Dec. 1, 2004, and has given birth to two bulls. She's pregnant now and due March 9, 2009, so hopefully this time she has a heifer! Noel has already milked 48,483 pounds in her two lactations, and since she comes from a family with record of longevity, she should produce a lot more milk in her lifetime. Noel is a good young cow that's very easy to get along with -- as proven by her willingness to have her picture taken for Blake and Jordan Hansen's 2006 Christmas card!

Best ever sugar cookies (great for cut-outs) (re-post)
1# Hansen's butter, softened
2 cups of sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
2 T vanilla
5 cups flour plus 1 cup for rolling out cookies
Mix together the first 3 ingredients, then add eggs and vanilla. Mix in 5 cups of flour. Use the other cup for rolling dough. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 -10 minutes. Watch so you don't overbake. They still taste good even if they are a bit crispy.
Frost or decorate with sugars.

Savory Cheeseball

Ingredients
2 lb. Velveeta (cubed)
1 8 oz cream cheese
1 lb. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 lb. Hansen's Butter
2 jars Kraft Bacon Cheese
1 jar Kraft Pimento Cheese
1 jar Kraft Pineapple Cheese
With everything at room temperature, mix with your electric mixer. Let sit for an hour or overnight, covered in refrigerator. Form into balls. May be sprinkled with dried parsley, bacon bits, nuts, etc. Wrap in plastic wrap. Great for gifts. Teachers love them. Tie up with tissue paper and ribbon. Makes about 10 8 oz balls.

Brent Hansen will be performing in Plaid Tidings at the Oster Regent Theatre, Cedar Falls. Performances are Dec 5, 6, 7, and Dec 12, 13, 14. Sundays @ 2 PM , all others at 7:30 PM. A family musical comedy and based on the Christmas version of the popular musical comedy "Forever Plaid" Four guys sing harmony in popular Christmas songs and songs from the 50's and 60's. With great songs, colorful costumes and comedy that will put you in the Christmas Spirit. Tickets are available at 319-277-5283. Box office open Mon - Fri 1:00 - 5:00 PM